Bortle Ratings

The Bortle Scale rates how well you can see celestial objects in a certain place, taking into account light pollution and sky glow. Lower numbers indicate darker skies. For example, Big Bend Ranch State Park has a Bortle Scale rating of 1, while Cedar Hill State Park, near Dallas, has a Bortle rating of 8.

Below is a list of all state parks, by region, with Bortle Scale ratings. Follow the link to find a park's Clear Sky Chart, which shows an astronomer's forecast for that park. Look for a link to the park's webpage under the chart.